Remote feature activator feature extraction

Abstract

A database record controls a license to use a computational component. An input receives an order identifier associated with an order related to a computational component and an interface retrieves order information associated with the identifier. The order information comprises at least one material code. A material code mapping agent compares the material code with at least one material code mapping table to identify corresponding computational component information associated with the material code. In another configuration, a transaction record includes first information associated with the order, the order relates to at least a first computational component and/or feature thereof, a configuration file includes second information different from the first information, the configuration file relates to at least one telecommunication switch/server, and a configuration file processing agent compares some of the first information with some of the second information to form a system record having both first and second information.

1. A method, comprising:
 receiving an order identifier associated with an order, the order relating to a first feature thereof, the first feature thereof to one of upgrade or replace at least one of a telecommunication switch and server; 
 retrieving order information associated with the order identifier, wherein the order information comprises at least one material code; 
 comparing the at least one material code with at least one material code mapping table to identify corresponding first information associated with the at least one material code; 
 forming a transaction record containing the identified first information; 
 receiving a configuration file comprising second information different from the first information, the configuration file relating to a current configuration of the at least one of a telecommunication switch and server; 
 merging at least some of the first information with at least some of the second information to form a license file comprising both first and second information, the license file being for the operation of the at least a first computational component and/or feature thereof. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises a plurality of a description of the computational component, a platform description, a module type, an application description, a release description, and a feature code and wherein the merging step comprises applying a set of rules to resolve potential conflicts between the first and second information, the set of rules comprising:
 (i) in response to selected first information being associated with a first type of feature and, in response to the switch configuration file indicating that the first type of feature is available for use, using the selected first information in a right-to-use field in the license file; 
 (ii) in response to selected first information being associated with a second type of feature and, in response to the second information not containing the second type of feature, using the selected first information in right-to-use, setting, and range fields in the license file; and 
 (iii) in response to the selected first information being associated with a third type of feature and, in response to the second information not containing the third type of feature, using the selected first information in right-to-use, setting, and range fields in the license file. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 repeating the merging step for each of a plurality of material codes in the order information. 
 
     
     
       4. A system, comprising:
 a memory; 
 a processor in communication with the memory, the processor operable to execute a material code mapping agent, a configuration file processing agent, and a feature activator; 
 the material code mapping agent operable to:
 receive an order identifier associated with an order, the order relating to at least a first computational component and/or feature thereof, the at least a first computational component and/or feature thereof to upgrade and/or replace at least one of a telecommunication switch and server; 
 retrieve order information associated with the order identifier, wherein the order information comprises at least one material code; 
 compare the at least one material code with at least one material code mapping table to identify corresponding first information associated with the at least one material code; 
 form a transaction record containing the identified first information; 
 
 the configuration file processing agent operable to:
 receive a configuration file comprising second information different from the first information, the configuration file relating to a current configuration of the at least one of a telecommunication switch and server; 
 merge at least some of the first information and at least some of the second information to form a system record comprising both first and second information; and 
 
 the feature activator operable to generate a license file containing at least some of the computational component information, the license file being for the operation of the at least a first computational component and/or feature thereof and including first and second information. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first information comprises a plurality of a description of the computational component, a platform description, a module type, an application description, a release description, and a feature code and wherein the configuration file processing agent is further operable to apply the following set of rules as part of sub-operation (b2):
 (i) in response to selected first information being associated with a first type of feature and, in response to the switch configuration file indicating that the first type of feature is available for use, using the selected first information in a right-to-use field in the system record; 
 (ii) in response to selected first information being associated with a second type of feature and, in response to the second information not containing the second type of feature, using the selected first information in right-to-use, setting, and range fields in the system record; and 
 (iii) in response to the selected first information being associated with a third type of feature and, in response to the second information not containing the third type of feature, using the selected first information in right-to-use, setting, and range fields in the system record. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the material code mapping agent is operable to:
 repeat the merging operation for each of a plurality of material codes in the order information.